Envelope machine



July 14, 1925.

W. H. SHEPPARD ENVELOPE MACHINE File NOV. 29, 1922 6 Sheets-Sheet l July 14, 1925.

W. H. SHEPPARD ENVELOPE MACHINE Filed NOV. 29, 1922 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 Irraap/rz/s:

July 14, 1925. 1.546.034

W. H. SHEPPARD ENVELOPE MACHINE Filed Nov. 29, 1922 s Sheets-Shee't s Q/E TURT- i T TERA/g5:

July 14, 1925.

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' 1,546,034 w. H. SHEPPARD ENVELOPE MACHINE Filed Nov. 29, 1922 6 Sheets-Shet 4 July 14, 1925. 1,546,034.

' W. H. SHEPPARD ENVELOPE MACHINE Filed Nov. 29, 1922 -s Sheets- Sheet 5 f7 o- 25 i if Mwm July 14, 1925.

W- H. SHEPPARD ENVELOPE MACHINE 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 Filed Nov. 29, 1922 WVE /T R:

7 2 TERA/E415.

Patented 3 ATES PATENT creme.

VJILLIAM H. SHEPPARD, OF WORGE$TER-, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO SEEEPARD ENVELDPE CGZviIEANY, F WORCESTER, MASSACHUSETTS, A CORPQRATEGN OE .liIAS-SACHUSETTS.

ENVELOPE MACHINE.

Application filed. November 29, 1922. Serial No. 604,059.

T 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, lVrLLrAr r II. SHEP- rann, of IVorcester, in the county of Norccs ter and State of Massachusetts, a citizen of the United States, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Envelope M.- c-hines, of which the following is a specifiration.

My invention relates particularly to that portion of an envelope-machine which is used for the purpose of applying to the open-faced envelope a patch of transparent material whereby the opening will be closed. Various means have been devised for accomplishing this result, but so far as I know such means have required either that the envelope blank should be stopped in its horizontal movement between the gumming mechanism and the folding mechanism during which delay the patch, so called, of transparent material shall be applied, or else has been applied at some point during the folding operation by means of, for example, the ordinary folder plunger by which I the blank is carried down through the creasing frame onto the bottom of the folding box. In my machine hereinafter described the envelope blank moves in the usual way upon a carriage horizontally from the gummer to the folding box and during itstransit and without stopping receives the patch which is applied by a rotary element to cover the opening in the blank.

An important advantage in a machine so constructed lies in the fact that there is no loss of time due to the stoppage of the blank during the attaching process and there is also no loss of power due to the change of direction of motion in the reciprocation of the plunger. Hence in the operation of my mechanism there is no jar such as always exists in a machine where a reciprocating motion is utilized.

In the drawings there is shown only so much of the envelope machine frame as is necessary to the proper disclosure of my invention. The mechanism shown is that relating solely to my invention, and it isshown in its preferred form mounted upon the en velope machine frame.

Figure 1 is a side view of mechanism embodying my invention.

Fig. 2 is plan thereof, the carriage being omitted.

F 3 is p tial fr nt elevation.

Fig. 4 is a partial rear elevation, and

Figsp5 and 6 show, respectively, the machine in the act of securing a patch from the patch hopper and after dropping that patch on the patch. feed.

In the drawings I have shown so much of an envelope machine as will indicate the means for supporting my mechanism, and as in the preferred construction of my machine I use suction for. the purpose of lifting the top patch from the patches in the hopper as has been done in other machines, I have omitted from the drawings the suction pump and other means including the suction cut-01f and means for operating it whereby suction may be applied and released at the proper times to lift and drop the patch, as such parts and the means for operating them are old in this art.

Various parts of the frame of the machine are lettered A, A A etc., as below referred to. Such parts being well known or easily recognized will not be further described except as may be necessary to describe the preferred construction and operation of my mechanism.

B is the carriage which as ordinarily constructed comprises two rests which are connected to run in guides on the part of the frame marked A I) being a, hook applied to each member of the carriage by means of which the envelope blank is pulled from a position under the picker and gummer mechanism to some convenient point, for example, a point just beneath the patch-attaching mechanism, as shown in Fig. 1. It will be understood that the carriage is constantly reciprocated by suitable and well known means and that the rests are spaced apart so that means may be provided between them whereby the blank may be fed to the folding box by feed rolls as shown or other means, without interference. v

The mechanism shown comprises there fore mechanism for feeding the blanks continuously and without stoppage from the gummer to the folding box, means for picking up the patch and'presenting it to the patch-feeding mechanism itself and the means for applying the patch to the blank while the blank is in motion. 1 is the power shaft which carries a sprocket wheel 2 connected by a sprocket chain 8 with sprocket 4 on the shaft 5, this shaftbeing supported On uprights A. 011 the shaft 5 is m unted a series of feed rolls 6 of such diameter that they will support and feed the envelope blank C and the patch. 0 attached thereto. The shaft 5 also carries a gear 7 in mesh with a gear 8 on shaft 9, this shaft being supported in the arms a pivoted in bearings c on the uprights A*.' This shaft 9 carries presser rolls 10 segmental in character and serving durin a portion of their circumference to engage the patch, press it against the blank and at the same, time cooperate with the feed rolls 6 in feeding the blank. Preferably these presser rolls are cut away as indicated at 11 so that during a portion of their circumference they do not engage the feed rolls or blank. It is desirable that the shaft 9 be supported in a swingable arm so that the presser rolls may adjust themselves to the thickness of the paper of which the blank is made and also to the additional thickness added thereto at the points where the patch is applied to the blank. It will be noted that these p-resser rolls serve also as a part of the patch-feeding mechanism. A spring 101 attached at one .end to the lug 102 on A and at the other end to the end of a pulls a down to keepthe'rolls 10 in contact with the paper. 12 is the patch hopper which is mounted in fixed position on an. arm or bracket 13. Preferably the connection between the hopper 12 and bracket 13 is such that in the first adjustment .of the machine the hopper may be set at the proper angle to the patch picker. from which project rods 14 and a stripper 15, this stripper being preferably a small metal plate which rides on two of the rods 14 and serves to prevent by its weight more than one p atchbeing lifted at a time.

The patch picker comprises a hollow box 16 of such size that when in contact with the top blank in the hopper as shown in Fig. 5 it will engage only a portionof the surface of the top blank. It is perforated on its undersurface in a manner well known and the chamber within it is connected by a tube 17 with a suction pump and suction control mechanism, which may be of any well known kind. It is pivoted at 18 to a yoke 19 attached to an arm 20 forming the lower extremity of a. plate 21. This plate 21 carries a bearing 22 and at its upper end is provided with an angle piece 23. A spring 24 is connected at its lower end with the rear end of the picker 16 and at its up per end with an adjusting screw 25 which passes through the angle piece 23, the adjustment of the tension of the spring being regulated by a thumb nut 26. The bearing 22 is mounted on a shaft 27 which carries a Trshaped lever 28 the lower of which has cam roll 29 mounted on it. Its long arm is pivotally connectedto a link 30 carrying a hub mounted on stud 3.01 which also The hopper comprises a platformv carries the hub of a second link 31 connected by a knuckle joint with a yoke 32 on the upper end; of a rod 33. The stud 301 is mounted to turn in a bearing in bracket 06- on upright A The lower end of rod 33 is connected 34 with an eccentric strap 35. 36 is an eccentric mounted on the shaft 37 which carries also a gear 38 in mesh with a gear 39 on the shaft 1. 7

It will be noted from this construction that the rotation of the shaft 1 will thus cause the rise and fall of the rod 33 and it in turn will cause the link 31 and lever 28 to move toward the right fromthe posi tion shown in Figs. 1 and 5 to the position shown in Fig. 6, thus causing the lifting of the patch picker and its movement into patchmeleasing position, and it will also be understood that by means of mechanism now well known in the art suction will be applied to the picker so that when in icking posi-. tion the top patch in the hopper will be at.- tracted and for the moment attached to the under surface of the picker which during its feeding movement will pull the patch out from under the stripper 15 and carry it over to apredetermined point and then release the patch so that it'will fall onto the patch feed. For this purpose the 021111 roll 29 is caused :to run over a cam surface .40 mounted on a portion of the frame A". This will cause the picker 16 to rise into position properly to discharge the patch onto the V patch-feeding mechanism,

The patch-feeding mechanism comprises a series of belts preferably of canvas or some material from off which the patch will not readily slip. Such belts are shown at 41. all of them pass over pulleys 42, 43. The pulleys 42 are mounted on a shaft 44 supported in hearings on the uprights A and carrying at its outer end a sprocket 45. This sprocket is connected by a sprocket chain 46 with a sprocket 47 on the further.

end of :the shaft 9. The pulleys 43 are mounted on a shaft 48 which is carried by links A hanging from shaft 49 which passes through frames 50. This shaft alsocarries check levers 491 each having atoe 51adapted to engage the patch at the proper time and hold it until the attaching mechanism is ready to receive it. For this purpose these levers, of which there may be any convenient number (two are shown), are held in lowered posit-ion as shown in Fig. 6 by meansof a spring .52 one end of which is attached to the frames 50 and the other end of which engages the pin 53 on the lever 491. To lift this lever 491 atthe proper time I provide a suitably shaped cam '54 mounted on the shaft 9 to turn therewith. It has projections which engage the lever 491 at the proper times, the lever having preferably an adjustable screw or hearing A number of these belts are used and surface so that the throw of the lever may be easily controlled.

In order to serve as a guide to the patch I provide belts 56 passing round pulleys 57 58. The pulleys 58 are mounted on a shaft 59 mounted in the frames 50 carrying a gear 60 which is in mesh with the gear 8. The pulley 57 is mounted on a stud 61 carried by the frames 50 through the front end of which the shaft 59 passes. They serve to support the various parts in proper relation to each other. The pulleys 57, 58 are so arranged that the belt moves within a short distance of the feed belt 41 and thus, while not engaging the patch, guides it as it leaves the patch picker to the feed belt and prevents its lateral edges from curling up so that the patch will be fed properly by the feed belt.

The patch being carried down by the belt 41 engages rolls 63 which is preferably coated with rubber or other like material. These rolls 63 are mounted on a shaft 64 carried by an arm 65 projecting downward from the frame 50. The shaft 64 has on it a gear 66 which is in mesh with the gear 8 so that it is given a positive motion to press the patch against the pressing surface of the presser wheel 10 and ensure contact between the two. A guiding plate 67 is hung from the arms 65 and guides the patch so that it is properly presented to the envelope blank.

From the above it is believed that the operation of my invention will be understood.

The various parts of my machine are timed so that suction being applied and the picker approaching or resting upon the top patch in the hopper will engage it, lift it out from under the separator and carry it up and over to such a position that upon the releasing of the suction the patch will drop onto the feeding belt as shown in Fig. 6 where the patch is lettered 0 The position and movement of the belt 56 is such as to guide the patch onto the feeding belt by which it will be carried down. At the same time the toe 51 of the lever 491 will be lifted by the cam so as to engage and hold the lower edge of the patch until the patch is wanted. In the meantime the envelope blank, which has had its window previously cut therein, has been moved into a position under the pressing mechanism when the lever 491 being released by its cam will be pulled back by gravity, and its spring thus releasing the patch and allowing it to pass down into engagement with the rubber roll 63 and the pressing surface of the presser roll 10. It is thus fed along into proper position between the feed rolls and the presser rolls and it is thereby attached along its edges to the blank which has been previously suitably gummed by the gumming mechanism.

It will be understood that during this operation there is no delay or dwell to the e11- velope blank. Itmay be fed continuously from the gumming mechanism to the folding mechanism, the patch-applying mechanism assisting in its feed, the patch-applying mechanism thus being available at any time in case it is desired to use the machine to make ordinary envelopes without the open face.

It will be noted that only six feed or presser rolls are shown; in other words,that pressure is only applied at six different points. The number is immaterial for in the subsequent handling of the blank, either in the folding box or in the drier, close contact is made between the patch, the gummer and the blank.

It is also apparent that while my mechanism is primarily designed for applying patches to envelope blanks, it may equally well be used forapplying address labels to newspaper wrappers or the like. And it is also apparent that while I have shown my invention embodied in the best form now known to me, I do not mean to limit myself to the exact construction shown as its details may be varied without departing from my invention.

What I claim as my invention is 1. In a machine of the kind described, a patch hopper and means for applying a patch from said hopper to an envelope blank comprising a horizontally-reciprocating blank feed adapted to carry the gummed blank from a pile of blanks to a folding mechanism, and means for applying said patch to said blank while said blank feed is in motion.

2. In a machine of the kind described, a hopper, means for selecting a patch from said hopper, a continuously reciprocating blank feed, a patch feed, means for carrying the patch from said hopper to said patch feed, whereby it will be fed to a moving blank carried by said blank feed.

3. In a machine of the kind described a hopper, means for selecting a patch from said hopper, a continuously moving blank feed, a patch feed, suction means for carrying the patch from said hopper to said patch feed whereby it will be fed to a moving blank carried by said blank feed.

4. In a machine of the kind described,a patch-handling mechanism comprising a patch picker, means for moving it from a patch-picking to a patchdelivery position,

a patch feed comprising a moving belt located to receive a patch from said patch picker, and deliver it to a presser mechanism, and a presser mechanism comprising a presser roll, in combination with a blank feed, rolls located to register with said presser rolls whereby said patch will be pressed onto a blank carried by said blank feed.

5. In a machine of the kind described, a

patcli llandling mechanism ,c o1nprising :a patch picker, means for moving it :from a patch-picking to a patch-delivery positionya patch feed comprising a moving belt located to receive a patch from said :patch picker, and deliver it to a presser mechanism, and a presser mechanism comprising a presser roll, and means for holding said patch against said presser roll,in combina tion With a blank feed, rolls located to register with said presser rolls whereby said patch Will be pressed onto a blank carried by said blank feed.

6. In a machine of the kind described, a

patch-handling mechanism comprising a patch picker, means for moving it from a patch-picking to a patch-delivery position, a vpatch feed comprising a moving belt located to receive a patch from said patch picker, and deliver it to a presser mechanism, and a presser mechanism comprising a presserroll and yielding means for supporting said presser roll, in combination with a blank feed, rolls located'to register With said presser roll whereby said patch will be pressed ontova-blank-carried by said blank :feed. v v

7. In a machine oithe vkind described, a patch-handling mechanism comprising a patch picker, means for moving it from a patch-picking to a patch-delivery position, a patch feed comprising a moving belt located to receive a patch from said patch picker, and deliver itto a presser mechanisnnand'a holding lever and means for moving it intermittently into the path or" a patch on said feeding mechanism and then releasingsaid patch whereby the-delivery of said patch to said presser mechanism may be positively timed,-and a presser mechanism comprising a presser roll, in combination With a blank feed, rolls located to register With said press er roll whereby said patch will. be pressed ontoa blank carried by said blank feed,

WILLIAM H. SHEPPARD. 

